Playoff Observations -- Sunday

The Wings are to the Pens as synthetic oil is to conventional. Discuss.

Scott Walker had his automatic one-game suspension for instigating a fight in the last five minutes of a game dropped to a measly $2,500 fine. What will Evgeni Malkin's be reduced to? I'm beginning to think the NHL rule book has pop-up pages you find in kids' books.

Playoff Observations -- Saturday

Henrik Zetterberg has a big butt. How else did the ref miss Zett's hand closing on the puck on Chris Osgood's back? Maybe he was staring like ol' Sir Mix-A-Lot. Blown call.

Marc-Andre Fleury pulled the old 'how I lost the World Junior Championships for Team Canada' trick in the third, skating out to play the puck and almost flipping it straight into the oncoming Red Wing. At least he didn't trip leading his team onto the ice this year.

St. Wieters Day Live Blog

With today being a fantasy baseball national holiday and all, due to the ascension of Matt Wieters, I figured it would be as good a day as any to crank up the liveblogging machine.
Except, of course, that Wieters' debut is delayed by inclement weather. Boo Mother Nature! I hope the liveblogging machine produces a ton of CO2.
In the meantime, Josh Outman was cruising until Marlon Byrd just tied it up in the seventh and the rest of the 7 o'clock games are about to start. Let the St. Wieters Day festivities begin!

MLB Notes

Chris Carpenter remains a huge injury risk, but it’s clear he’s back to being one of the game’s best pitchers when on the mound. Chances are he eventually gives up a run this season, but Monday’s start against the Brewers was one of the most dominant performances of 2009. Despite the shaky status of his arm, Carpenter is throwing harder than ever, as his current average fastball velocity (92.3 mph) is the highest of his career. Moreover, no NL pitcher has thrown a harder slider (87.8 mph average) this year, with only Justin Verlander (88.9 mph) besting him. Carpenter is filthy, and while not on the DL, he will likely continue to pitch like a top-10, if not top-five, fantasy starter.

Playoff Observations -- Wednesday

Cristobal Huet channelled both the Amazing Kreskin and Rubberboy with that on-his-belly, mind-over-matter leg save on Marian Hossa in the dying seconds of the third. He saved the game... at least for a few moments.

Not that long ago, a shot off the backboards was considered a complete duffer. Now, it's good strategy. I have to tell my beer league buddies that -- we'd look mighty fine under those rules.

Is LeBron Skirting the Line Between Individual and Team Greatness?

After the Magic won game 4 to take a 3 - 1 lead on the Cavs, there has been some talk that perhaps LeBron James is doing a bit too much and perhaps limiting his supporting cast. Is there any merit to this?

MLB Notes

Quietly, Andruw Jones has posted a 1.003 OPS this season, with more walks (18) than strikeouts (15). It’s a small sample size with 69 at-bats, and his production has been solely Arlington aided (1.209 OPS at home, .728 on the road). Still, after hitting .205 over the past two seasons, it’s surprising to see some life back in his bat. He’s not all that valuable in fantasy circles as a part-time player, but there isn’t any good reason he shouldn’t start getting more action at Marlon Byrd’s expense.

NFL Magazine Mock Draft

The RotoWire Magazine Mock Draft took place Tuesday, April 28, just two days after the NFL draft. It was a 12-team draft with 15 rounds, standard parameters and standard scoring: (QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 D) and (3/6 TDs, 20/10 yards).

Playoff Observations -- Sunday

Charles Atlas vs. the 98-pound weakling. Not only did the Blackhawks get sand kicked in their eyes but they got their undies wedged up so far it felt like butt floss. What a spanking.

Marian Hossa scored 40 in the regular season. But in the playoffs, he only scores in Game 4s of each series. And then he scores twice... every time. Guess it takes him until the fourth date to really get comfy.

Clearing the Air on Marques Colston and Microfracture Surgery

Mircofracture surgery. No two words are more feared by athletes and fantasy owners. Numerous professionals have undergone this arthroscopic knee procedure, most famously the Phoenix Suns’ Amare Stoudamire in 2005. Recently it was revealed that New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston had microfracture surgery in the offseason. However before you panic and reevaluate your draft strategy, understand that microfracture surgery can be performed at varying locations in the knee. Here is some basic information to help you better understand what to expect if one of your fantasy players undergoes the procedure.

Playoff Observations -- Saturday

Super Gino strikes again -- two goals and a helper this time. Evgeni Malkin credits his recent outstanding play to his parents' arrival from Russia and specifically his mother's homemade soup. You read that right. Gino is powered by borscht. He's full of beef, beets, beans, cabbage and potatoes. No wonder no one wants to go near him.

And here Eric Staal thought finding a cab in Pittsburgh was tough. Try finding the net. Three games, no goals, one helper, minus-6 and 12 shots. Maybe Mrs. Malkin can help him, too.

Playof Observations -- Friday

Martin Havlat was texting while driving, dropped his phone in his feet and was flattened by a Mack truck named Niklas Kronwall. What's the squatty Swede supposed to do? Swerve to miss him? The hit seemed clean to me; the fur pile that ensued -- right on top of the momentarily unconscious Hawk -- was a bit too kinky for me, though.

Women really do crazy for a Sharp Dressed Man. Finally, studly sniper Patrick Sharp showed up. Maybe, just maybe, Joel Quenneville will figure out that you don't play your shooters on the third and fourth line. Remember, compact flourescent light bulbs always flicker a few times before they come on.

Can the Magic really beat the Cavs?

Before the start of the Cavs/Magic series I thought that Orlando had some nice mismatches and that on paper they could beat the Cavs, but that in the end it wouldn't matter and that the Cavs would win in five games or less. After game 1, though, I find that perhaps I need to reevaluate my thoughts. At the very least, let's go through some of the reasons why Orlando has a chance of keeping LeBron James from earning his crown.

It's hard to believe that it took Chris Kunitz 15 post-season games to pot his first goal. Ya, he's contributing in other ways but I expected more. You can't get a much better centerman than the one he has.

MLB Notes

Carl Crawford is a remarkable 25-for-25 on stolen base attempts this season, and dating back to last year, he’s been successful on 34 consecutive tries. His 96-steal pace isn’t going to last in 2009, and it looks like his days of hitting 15-18 homers are a thing of the past, but it’s hard to argue with the current version of Crawford. Because the Rays’ lineup is so much better than when he was a unanimous first round pick in fantasy leagues, Crawford should also threaten career-highs in runs scored and RBI as well.

Billy Hamilton went for $28 in the NL LABR auction this past weekend. I discussed this with a fellow writer who participates in Tout Wars with me later this month and we discussed the problem with investing heavily into Hamilton.